Kellerberrin, Western Australia, AustraliaWe stayed at the Big 4 Caravan Park at Midland and I'm not sure we will stay at the park again. It is full of permanents and the whole park is quite tired looking. But it was convenient and was fine in this instance.
We were back at the caravan before 2.00pm. And I even managed a very quick shop At Myer for a doona cover for our new bed. When I got off the escalator there was a Sheridan cover on display. Right colour, one left and 30% discount. Just as well there was 30% discount! We received a phone call on the way to Perth to say our new bed head had arrived at Harvey Norman. Fiona will take delivery of it in the next couple of weeks. I made myself a sandwich while Peter hooked on and we were on the road by 2.30pm.
Our destination was Kellerberrin, my birthplace. It is nice to go back every now and then and have a visit. It was not far from the Midland caravan park to Great Eastern Highway, it being our first trip up Greenmount with the caravan behind. Pete was sure pumping the fuel!
I reflected on the exciting trips to Perth as a child. There weren’t many, so they were all exciting. We always called into the fruit and vege shop at Sawyers Valley. The colourful stall was so welcoming and the produce delicious. The drive to Northam really is a breeze now and so much safer. Shame for the town of Northam that it is so far off the highway now, but good for the truckies.
Onwards to Meckering and my first glimpse of the iconic Kalgoorlie water pipeline. Just near Snooke Road it was too! We have stopped previously and taken lots of photos re the 1976 earthquake, but I did find myself reflecting on where the interdenominational new church had been built and decided maybe we needed a photo for Barbara Kelly’s story in CWA Centenary Book.
We stopped at Cunderdin to stretch our legs and I walked back to take a photo of the yellow plane. I thought it was probably relevant to the gliding club, something one has always associated with Cunderdin. I found a stone and plaque under the plane, that had me reflecting on Isobelle Cochrane’s CWA story. Isabelle wrote the history of Carnarvon CWA branch and was a reporter for the Daily News when Carnarvon was flooded in 1960 and the West Australian when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. Isabelle was a signals operator at Cunderdin during WW11. The replica Tiger Moth was built in recognition of the Elementary Flying Training School at Cunderdin during WWII. 2000 young men We’re trained as pilots. And then I found myself wanting to know where the Cunderdin CWA Centre was and whether it was still there and if so what was it being used for now! The CWA cap hasn’t been taken off yet! Maybe it never really is.
Onwards then to Tammen, where we decided to fuel up. There had been a lot of rain in the town in the previous few days and I found a perfect spot for a photo shot of the silos. Wouldn’t Silo Art of the Countrwomen’s Association of WA be perfect on these silos? So of the artwork in WA is very different, like Albany and Northam. There is nowhere to view safely at Northam either. But I really do love Pingerup which is easily visible and more traditional.
By 5.15pm we were in Kellerberrin and at the caravan park, with a lovely view west to the iconic Kellerberrin Hill. As a child I had climbed all over it with my siblings. We lived on the west side of town, not far from the hill and the No 5 Golden Pipeline Pumping Station was opposite where we lived. The web informs me it was upgraded to an electric pump in 2001 at a cost of $5.6 million.
We put our electric cord out and a tub on the site we chose, chatted to our neighbours from Newcastle in NSW and decided to leave the caravan hooked up and did a quick tour of the town before having dinner at the hotel. We stopped to take a photo of the house opposite the Catholic Church and St Joseph’s Primary School which closed in 1976. I lived with Mr and Mrs MacWilliam in the house for a few months when the rest of the family went to Geraldton. A guy came out when I was walking around to take a photo of the very old Presbyterian Church. I didn’t end up with a photo! The guy was Graham Laird, two years older than me, but I did remember him from school. Turned out he remembered us and had carted sheep for Russell’s for years. He delivered sheep to Woodlands Farm way back and had slept at the sheep yards the night he arrived. Peter remembered later we had cooked him breakfast the next morning. We certainly didn’t expect this interaction!
I had to take another snap of the CWA Centre and I wasn’t sure whether I had a photo of the lovely St John’s Anglican Church alongside the CWA Centre. I had been baptised and confirmed in this church. To my surprise the foundation stone had been laid by James Mitchell in 1910. The Premier of WA and later Governor Sir James Mitchell whom the CWA of WA beneficiary fund Is named after. Every time one goes exploring, they find another piece of history. What will tomorrow bring?
dorothystokes
2022-04-02
Lovely Pam. So glad you’re putting yourself under the pressure to do this every day - it really is worth it. So nice to go back to your old stamping ground and relive memories.
pamandpete
2022-04-02
Thanks Dorothy. I’ve been typing it on my iPad in the car and then last night I air dropped the photos from my phone: So that was a bit easier and when I get used to the site again, I hope I also get quicker! Have you noticed a new feature is you can get a book printed?
Heather Allen
2022-04-03
Just a shame we cannot have those silos. But new ideas are coming forward from the owners of our silos.
Jenny
2022-04-03
Not having any joy with commenting. It sure doesn't like me. Maybe I've lost my touch, like everything. Trying again. Keep up the blogging, yes it is hard work, but look how often we refer back to them.
pamandpete
2022-04-03
Thanks for your comments Heather and Jenny. It is a commitment, but we do refer to our blogs often. And it's a nice way to keep in touch with friends back home.